Conference to discuss plight of Sri Lankan Tamil women

The 19th conference of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) to be held here from August 8 to 11 will have an exclusive session on Sri Lankan Tamil women, who bore the brunt of the civil war that ravaged the country.

Talking to reporters, Anne Raja, NFIW general secretary, said that the session would be on August 9.

There would be an exhibition of photographs, explaining the plight of the women.

“We will also adopt a resolution seeking to address the problems faced by the Sri Lankan Tamil women.”

The conference will be presided over by NFIW president and Magsaysay award winner Aruna Roy.

It will discuss, among other things, the neo-liberal economic policies of the government and their impact on education and employment of women and social oppression of women.

“Ninety per cent of the women workers are in the unorganised sector and global economic scenario has created a tough situation for them,” she said.

Unless the root causes such as dowry and domestic violence were addressed it would be very difficult to liberate Indian women from oppression.

She said 800 delegates from 26 States would participate in the conference.